Recorder key for watchmen&#39;s clocks



March 2, 1954 M, AUCH v 2,671,005

RECORDER KEY FOR WATCHMENS CLOCKS Filed March l5. 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 JNVENmR. /VPT//V JAM/cw March 2, l1954 M. JAUcH 2,671,005

RECORDER REY RoR wATcHMEN's cLocxs Filed March l5, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WQ/P//V 40C/sf www ff/fm Patented Mar. 2, 19754 RECORDER KEY FOR WATCHMENS CLOCKS Martin Jauch, Park Ridge, Ill., assignor to Detex Watchclock Corporation, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of Delaware Application March 15, 1950, Serial No. 149,731

17 Claims.

This invention relates to watchmens clocks and more particularly to improved mechanism associated with watchmens clocks for rendering impressions on record-receiving means within the clock.

One or more portable watchmens clocks are customarily utilized to service a multiplicity of stations arrayed at random points throughout a tour of inspection. At each station there is secured a recording key for forming an impression on record-receiving means housed within the casing of the clock. The record-receiving means may comprise a time-calibrated tape displaced within the clock as a function of time in conformance with the clock-action, and an individualized impression may be made on the tape by dies in each recording key indicative of the time at which that particular impression was formed. Thus there is provided a permanent and complete record of the watchmans tour of inspection.

In currently used Watchmans clock systems recording keys are providing having suitable embossing or printing dies mounted therein, the dies being supported within the key by means of one or more pivotally mounted carriers actuated by suitable means within the clock. In order to prevent the impression of the key at one station from overlapping and destroying the impression made at the preceding station, the die positions are varied within the respective keys. It has been found, however, that such recording mechanisms donot provide uniformly good impressions, the quality being varied, for exampie, due to variations in radial distances of the dies from the pivotal point of the carrier. Y

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a recordingk key assembly wherein recording dies or other impression-rendering means may be mounted at any one of a plurality of positions without^jeopardizing the effectiveness of the impression-forming operation.

It is another object of the invention to provide a recorder key assembly wherein the die pressures are equalized during each impressionforming operation to improve the legibility and appearance of the impressions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a. novel key actuating linkage to be housed within the clock casing to initiate and eiTect proper actuation of the recorder key, and whereby an impression cannot be made unless the key is properly orientated within the clock.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide'novel means for indicating to the operator when an impression has been formed on the record tape.

According to the invention there is provided a recorder key having a die-carrier member which is spring-supported in a manner affording full floating support in the plane of movement thereof. A locking linkage is provided within the key to maintain the die-carrier in an inoperative position until such time as the key is properly inserted in the clock, and suitable actuating means are provided within the clock to initiate movement of the die-carrier to form an impression on the record tape. ln addition a click member is provided to indicate when the diecarrier has been properly actuated to form an impression.

These and other objects of a typical recorder key and actuating mechanism formed according tothe invention may be better understood by reference to the following specioation in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a portable watchmans clock and a recorder key showing the key being received in the clock;

Fig. 2V is a view in side elevation of a recorder key;

Fig. 3 is a view in end elevation of the key shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view in longitudinal crosssection showing the internal mechanism of the recorder key;

Fig. 5 is a view in end elevation of the keyhouse .assembly adapted to actuate the recorder key and shown isolated from the portable clock in which it is mounted;

n Fig. 6 is a view in side elevation of the keyhouse assembly shown in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 17 is an enlarged perspective view of the key-house assembly showing the structural detail thereof.

A recorder key formed according to the inven- 'tion is designated by numeral l0 and is adapted to be secured by means of an apertured heel portion lla to a station box or Wall bracket I which may be disposed at any random point along the tour of inspection of the watchman. The key is preferably pivotally mounted by means of its apertured heel on an immovable pin l2 so that it may be swung outwardly to be received in a key-house I3 of a portable watchmans clock 14.

tape i (Fig. 7) between suitable reels mounted within the clock casing.

The record tape l5 is furnished with suitable time-calibrations it printed along one edge and is arranged in the clock to pass through the keyn house assembly i3 as shown in Fig. '7, with the time-calibration corresponding to the time of day disposedpreciselywithinthe key-house.1

The key lil is formedwith a'horizontaisitl" adapted to receive the record tape I 5 at such times as the key is received in the key-house 32 the slot l1 being dened byYazshank-.portionz Ig andan underlying shelf-portion IS formed in- Y tegrally therewith. A femal`e= die= memia'erZis formed in the inner surfacepftheshelfl forco'- action with a corresponding male die member 2l formed on the depending end iofai vertioaliaarnf. 22 slidably mounted within the shankA portion. I8 in suitable guide-ways 23, which guide-ways" may be enlarged to permit limited turning and lateralmovement'oi'the armlg The'arrnii i's affixed by its upper end to a horizontal? carrier-` barf 24" housed;` withinY an enlarged" chamber formed? in# theA shank.. A1 pair of" ooit springs. 25'; seated`Av in depressions 2.5il in thea shank; bear againsti the under: edge of? the carrier' bar' 242 to bias 1 the 1 carrier bari' upwardly against` contoured alzutm'ent's` 26 for-med integrallywitn the shank:

'lfhe-earrierbar 2&3? and hence the male die 2i arenormallyvv locked? in the'v upper;v inactive: posi'- ti'onby meansfof a: hor-izontallyeslidablefsear. 4ele*- ment 2l' biasedi in` the direction' or' its locking position byacoil springf 28lseated inrarecesszz'f: 'Ehe l'oekingsear: Zisiprovidedwith;aadepending foot'` 2e'- havingv an oblique: carni surface 29" en'.- gaged by a cam surface 33 formed on a shortlarm 311i pivotallyf mounted tot the shank: ati 32a. The pivotal`A arm: 31' isf. formed with ai secondiv Cami sur'- face# 331inormallyfdisposedoblique1yfat1the: inner endofthekey'slotf-l T;

Theiabove lockingflinkage isfreleased when5 the key is inserted in its house and then drivenihome so that a the.surfaceI ofthe unlocking: lever.- 3| l`s= engaged'by-aniunlookingfbar 341affi`xed in the throat of the key-house. i3d (Figs.v 5iand"7.)`:.. As th'e key. is. driven`- homel the unlocking: bal" 34 causes the arm 3l to pivot upwardly, causingfthe locking;Av Sear." 2.1? tof be .driven horizontally to'` the right by coaction of their mutually engagedfsure faoesi Sliand 2&2. thereby'tcr release, thee carrier armazii, which-isathenzfree tos-be depresseddowrr.- wardly to form an impression onr the tape by means, of;` suitablefactuating linkage'r disposed within; the.; keyhmise;Y asf described. below.

The: key-lfiouse:i comprises ai key=receiving channel 35 (Fig. 5), havinggascross-sectionakconf guratiorrinetheform, of; an inverted; T5, which guides the enteringgkeyrsozthatithefmoving,record tape.- 55: is laterally received. within. the; slot: I1. 'Ehe :keg islikewise formed. withl alcross'fseotional configuration of an inverted T; thereby. insuring proper orientation. of. the. keit withinithee house atlalllti'm'es With the. key disposed'in thehouse andl the unlocking linkage' actuated;Y the embossing-A dies`A 2t anc 21 of the' keyY are brought int'o engagement by 4means ofia nger l'everf 3 3;

Thea lever' 35 is` pivotally` securedi by' a" pin` 31 atfitsinner end:v to the rearxwall off the" key-house andlisffforrnedwithl a cam surfaceA 361" in its-lower edge` adapted; to@ engage a; plate 31? pivot'ally mounted: ons. ai longitudinal]t axis.: by.' means?. off a pim 3&5 andi apertured; e'arszi. platsI Bf is v biased uirwardiyf byj'aV coiiispringfzli surrounding aa vertical; guide; pim 4i; received in: an; enlarged h'olefvd.k adiaceninthfree'fedgee the vplate;J

The under surface of the pivot plate 31 is formed with a pair of depending lugs 44 (Fig. 6) which are adapted to bear downwardly on the upper edge of the spring-supported carrier 24 of the recording key, when the latter is properly inserted in the key-house. Thus when the linger lever 35 is depressed the pivotal plate 31 will diivethe' carrier: bar 24idownwardlystoibring the dieA members 2Q and 2l into' engagement across the surfaces of the record tape i5 to form an impression thereon.

Inorder; to.- indicate to the operator when a record has been made, a signaling mechanism is providedr in' the keyeh'ouse including a pivotal click-'fingeni5-having a nose portion 46 extendthrough' an' aperture 4'! in the inner wall of tha-keyehousa The nose portion 4o is adapted to be engaged by a corner (i8 of the pivot plate 31 tobep'ivoted outwardly thereby against the action of a spring 49 until such time as the corner of thei= plate. passes'. the: nose: 46; y at; which timesl the linger.' l5-I snapsv` to its; initial position: against the. rearwall'. of thel key-lzrouse; producing a..-clioking sound audiblezt'ofth'ezoperatorrand .indicating that. the linkage has been suitably actuated:totifjormaan'Y impression orrt-hetapa.

Referringftu Fig; 4i it will;` be: seen?. that. the carrier bar. la, by virtue` of; the` floating support. in itsi plane oft movement tends', to. equalize` de.- enga'ging'pressurerthronghout theworking. areas. thereof... Moreover-, limitedlateralplay mayT he providednztheguideeway:ZSEfQrfthemm/'able-.die carriers: 2S: so* that: the; iemaledie may,` pilot-the male'` dieginto..` proper.l verticah alignment.A there:L by." expanding' the; tolerance; rangesn which.. must` bezmetiirnmanufacture; In.thisgrespecthescost. ofi manuiacture. of:y afwholly: efficient. key` mayl be materiallyrreducedi.

The: noi/eli assemblyLi also enablesftlne,T mountingY of dies at: any: one ofi' a.. plurality;l of; positions. along the length of the carrier bar Ztsuchias that; shown; by: broken;V linesJ inl Eig.. ll `without jeopardizing the., impression-forming: efdciensy. Thus it@ is l possible to mount thedies l in various reoorder keys. so: that the impressions. formed will-notoverlapfor:othenwiseobliteratefeaohrother eventhcugh the-time; required for. theewatchman to.: move. between. closely) adiaoent.A stations.- may hef: sol smallf. that t-he'frecord: tape. willv not. have moved; within.- the clock; a distance,- great. enough to; prnvidefy the .necessary spacing: oi.. tha imprese sions.A The;` in'ipsression character. a. onfthe` taps ld-Eig. 'Dl would. accordingly., overlanthe.- pression. b. were'.` it-L not; for. the. spacingsr cfithe respectiveiorming dies alongg` the. carrier. bar. 2A.

The number ci" positionsiiniwhich. the diesgmay he mounted. inspaced. relation along the carrier han isiinerentiitY limitedlby the length of.' the carrier bari. 'hanumben of available., positions; hon-level; is:` suchJ it, would. bei.A impossibleY a1 praetical2 matter.. for watchmani to; arrive-.fv at station m, in thesillustrated; exampieibeiore the tape had moved.,thronghithacloolnfor a.. distance resultingin. sufficient. spacing of L theimpressions aandL m, the. dies. fon which.. are.` correspondingly mounted. on-,the carrier. bar. ad...

It will be apparenttliatvarionssmodications may, be ina-dein. theabove. described' embodiment o thev invention andv that accordingly the; ini/en.- tionfshouidbe determined in soep-ahy; the. allowsh ing olairns-.-.

i. A. wateliniansa clock-f regarder? keit :for: forma inggindciaz-oniregoririnieansswitliim ai watohmansciock. including indicia-forming meinherr and a carrier therefor, a frame for said carrier including guide means providing for translation of the carrier and indicia-forming member in at least one plane between active and inactive positions, said frame having a rst opening through which at least a portion of the carrier may move when the indicia-forming member is translated toward its active position, resilient means exclusively supporting said carrier in said plane of movement and urging the carriei` toward its inactive position, and means forming a second opening in said frame aording access to said carrier at a point spaced from the rst opening whereby the carrier may be displaced toward its active position. v

2. A watchmans clock recorder key for forming indicia upon record sheet means within a watchmans clock, comprising male and female die members, a carrier for one of said die members, a frame for supporting said carrier including guide means providing for translation of said carrier and one die between active and inactive positions, resilient means biasing said carrier toward said inactive position, means supporting the other of said dies in operative relation with respect to said one die, means forming a first opening in said frame through which at least a portion of the carrier may move when the in.- dicia-forming member is translated toward its active position, and means forming a second opening in the frame affording access to the cai'- rier at a point spaced from the rst opening whereby the carrier may be displaced toward its active position.

3. A watchmans clock recorder key for form-- ing indicia upon record sheet means within a watchmans clock, comprising male and ,female die members, a carrier'for one of said die members, a frame for supporting said carrier including guide means providing for translation of said carrier and one die between active and inactive positions, resilient means biasing said carrier toward said inactive position, means forming an opening in the frame affording access to the carriei whereby the carrier may be displaced by means external to said key toward its active position against the action of said resilient means, means supporting the other of said dies in operative relation with respect to said one die, said resilient means and said guide means being i adapted to permit limited movement of said carrier in addition to and independently of said translational movement to facilitate cooperative action of said male and female die members.

4. In a Watchmans clock recorder key for marking a record sheet within a watchmans clock, a frame, male and female die members, an elongated carrier for one of said die members mounted in said frame for translational movement along a substantially straight line normal to the longitudinal axis thereof, said carrier being adapted to support said one die member :at any one of a plurality of positions along the length thereof, a second carrier member rigidly mounted with respect to said frame for supporting the other of said die members to be engaged by the movably mounted one die, said second carrier being adapted to support said other die member at any one of a plurality of positions corresponding to the position of said one die, and means forming an opening in the frame affording access to the carrier on the opposite side thereof from said one die member whereby the carrier may be displaced to bring the two die members into cooperative relationship.

5. In combination, a Watchmans clock recorder key including indicia-forming means having active and inactive positions and releasable locking means for maintaining said indiciaforming means in its inactive position, a keyhouse for receiving said key and an unlocking member mounted in said key-house for coaction with said locking means when the key is inserted into said house to release said indicia-forming means.

6. In combination, a watchmans clock recorder. key including indicia-forming means mounted for movement between active and inactive positions and releasable locking means for positively maintaining said indicia-forming means in its inactive position, a key-house for receiving said key, an unlocking member mounted in said key-house for coaction with said locking means for releasing said indicia-forming means when the key is inserted into said house, and actuating means in said key-house independent of said unlocking member for actuating said indicia-forming means.

7. In a watchmans clock recorder mechanism, a recorder key having a shank portion and irnpression-rendering means supported therein for movement between inactive and active positions, a key-house assembly for receiving the shank of said key, means mounted in said key-house for actuating said impression-rendering means including a lever arm mounted for pivotal movement about a given axis, an actuating member mounted for pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to the pivotal axis of said lever, and means carried by said actuating member for engaging said impression-rendering means in the key to displace the latter from its inactive to its active position.

8. In a watchmans clock recorder mechanism as set forth in claim 7, a click member mounted in said key-house assembly and interposed in the path of movement of said actuating member, said click member being adapted to produce an audible sound at such time as the actuating member has been displaced an amount necessary to move said impression-rendering means in the recorder key from its inactive to its active position.

9. In a watchmans clock recorder mechanism as set forth in claim '7 including a locking bar slidably mounted in said recorder key and normally interposed in the path of movement of said impression-rendering means to prevent movement thereof from its inactive to its active position,l cam means for sliding said locking member out of locking position, and an unlocking member mounted in said key-house and adapted to displace said locking member through said cam means when the key is inserted in said key-house.

10. A watchmans clock recorder key including a shank portion, a carrier mounted in said shank portion for translational movement between operative and inoperative positions, a die member supported by said carrier, an arm member attached to said carrier and extending outwardly therefrom in alignment with the translational movement of the carrier, wall means formed in said shank portion for slidably receiving the arm and for constraining said carrier and arm for translational movement in a given plane between said operative and inoperative positions, spring means supporting said carrier and biasing the same toward its inoperative position, a locking bar movably mounted in said shank and 

